Valve for fluid-pressure signaling apparatus



(No Model.)

E. J. LEWIS. VALVE EUR PLUIU PRESSURE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.r

ELLSVOR'III J. LEVIS, OF VARRENTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TESTING- IfIOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OE PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE FOR FLUID-PRESSURE SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,758, dated September 2, 1890. Application filed March l0, 1890. Serial No. 343,288. (No-model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLswoRTH J. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Warrenton, in the county of .Ietlerson and State of Ohio, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Fluid-Pressure Signaling Apparatus, of which improvement the following is a specification.

M v invention relates to apparatus designed I o more particularly for train-signaling, in which signals are given at a desired point by instituting a difference of pressure upon opposite sides of a movable abutment, and thereby opening a passage for iuid under pressure I5 to a signal-indicating device.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective signaling-valve mechanism in the operation of which the undue repetition of signals or the giving of more than zo one signal indication as the result of each preliminary actuation will be eitectually prevented.

The improvement claimed consists in certain novel devices and combinations herein- 2 5 after fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a signalingvalve mechanism embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 a transverse section through the 3o same at the line x x of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention I provide a chamber` or casing 1, which is of substantially cylindrical form, the same having an integral bottom plate and being closed at top by a removable head 2, properly secured by bolts and nuts. The casing 1 is divided by a movable abutment 5,- which is preferably, as shown, a fiexible diaphragm, secured peripherally between the body of the casing 4o and the head into two compartments G and 7, the upper of which G is ot comparatively small volume relatively to the lower 7.

A signaling-pipe connection or nozzle 8 is formed upon the head 2 for attachment to an ordinary line of signaling-pipe extending tothe farthest location from which signals are to be communicated-Es in train service the last car of a tritium-the casing 1 being mounted upon the locomotive-engine hauling the train, and the signaling-line being provided at proper intervals-as on each car of the train-with an actuating or discharge valve for eecting the reduction of pressure in the line which causes the signal to be given. The signaling-pipe connection S communicates with the smaller compartment 6 of the casing by a series of small supply-openings 9 formed in a cylindrical chamber 20 at. the inner end of the connection S. An annular check or non-returnvalve 21, secured upon 6o the end of a tubular stem 15, which passes centrally through the diaphragm 5, lits truly around the chamber 20, so as to close the openings 9 and thereby cut ott communication between the signaling-pipe connection 8 and 65 compartment 6, when the stem 15 is raised. The central bore of the stem 15 communicates with the chamber 6 by lateral passages 22 below the valve 21, and the stem carries upon its lower end a discharge-valve 14, which 7o seats on the upper end of and controls a discharge-passage 12, formed ina discharge connection or nozzle 13 secured centrally in the bottom of the casing, the discharge-passage 12 communicating with a pipe 10 leading to 75 a signal-indicatin g device, which is ordinarily a whistle located at some convenient point near the casing. A series of escape-ports 18 leads from the discharge-passage 12 to the atmosphere, said ports being normally closed 8o by a regulating-valve 17, formed on the upper end of a screw-plug engaging a thread in the lower end of the nozzle 13. The dischargepassage 12 opens at its upper end into a cylindrical valve-chamber 11, formed in the 8 5 nozzle 13, and the stem 15 is increased in diameter so as to fit truly in said chamber at and near the top thereof. Lateral passages 23 extend from the bore to the periphery of the stem 15, in such position that when the 9o discharge-valve 1i is seated said passages are closed by the wall of the chamber 11, and when the valve 1-1 is opened by the raising of the stem, said passages establish' communication between the compartment 7 ot the 95 casing and the bore of the stem, and thence through lower lateral passages 21 with the valve-chamber 11 and discharge-passage 12.

A supply-valve 25 is secured upon the stem l5 above the diaphragm 5, said valve seating roo upon a plate 26 secured upon the top ot the diaphragm and having a central passage 27 surrounding the stem 15 and of greater diameter than the latter. The plate 2G is connected to a plate 2S, fitting against the lower side of the diaphragm and provided with a lower bearing-face for a spring 16, which abuts against a shoulder on the stem 15 and holds the disch( rge-valve 14 normally to its seat. Lateral passages 29 in the central hub of the lower plate 2S act in connection with the passage 27 to establish communication between the chambers 6 and 7 of the casing when the valve 25 is unseatcd.

In operation fluid under pressure, ordinarily compressed air, passes from the signaling-pipe through the connections 8 and-snpply-openin gs 9 into the compartment 6, charging the same and depressing` the movable abutment 5, so as to unseat the supply-valve 25 and pass through the passages 27 and 29 into the compartment 7, charging the same and instituting an equilibrium of pressure on opposite sides of the abutment 5, which is thereby raised to the normal position shown in Fig. 1, seating the supply-Valve 25 and cutting oft communication between the compartments 6 and 7. Upon areduction of pressure V,in the signaling-line connected to the nozzle 8, effected by opening any one of the series of actuating-valves which afford a discharge from said line, the then greater pressure in the compartment 7 raises the abutment 5 and 'stem 15 and coincidenlly unseats the discharge-valve 111, fixed upon the latter, opens the ports 23 of the stem 15 to the compartments 7, and closes the supply-openings 9 by the check-Valve 21. Fluid under pressure is thereupon and thereby discharged from the compartments 6 and 7 through the passages 22 and 23, the central bore of the valve-stem, and the passages 24 and 12 into the pipe 10, and thence to the whistle or other signal-indicating device, causing a single signal indication to be given by the same, communication with the signaling-line being meanwhile cut oi by the check-valve 21. The length ot' the blast of the whistle may be decreased to a greater or less degree by opening the regn- `latingvalve 17 and permitting a portion of 'the air to be discharged through the escapepassages 18. Upon the restoration of pressure in the signaling-line and nozzle 8 the stem 15 and abutment 5 are forced down- Wardly, thereby opening the supply-passages 9 and seating the discharge-valve, and the compartments 6 and 7 are recharged, as before described, reinstating the normal equilibrium of pressure on opposite sides of the abutment in readiness for another signal to be given. Communication with the signalingline being cut ott by the check-valve 21 when the discharge-valve 14 is opened, the equalization of pressure in the signaling-line which follows the closure of the actuating-valve is effected before the closure of the dischargevalve, thus obviating the objection, which has been heretofore experienced, ot a reopening of the discharge-valve and the effection ot another and undesired signal-indication by the institution of a slight dilerence of pressure on opposite sides of the abutment occasioned by an equalization of pressure in the signaling-line after the discharge-valve has been closed.

I claim as my invention and desire to-secure by Lett-ers Patent- 1. In a Huid-pressure signaling mechanism,

the combination of a chamber or casing, a

fluid-pressure-supply passage leading thereinto, a movable abutment tted to Work in the casing, a pipe leading from the casing to a signal-indicating device, a stemactuated by the movable abutment, and a check-valve and a discharge-valve, each connected to said stem and respectively controlling communication between the supply-passage and the casing and between the casing and the signal-indicatin g pipe, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fluid-pressure signaling mechanism, the combination of a chamber or casing, a iluicl-pressure-supply passage leading thereinto, a movable abutment iitled to work in the casing, a pipe leading from the casing to a signal-indicating' device, a stem actuated by the movable abutment, a discharge-valve connected to said stem and controlling communication between the casing and the signal-indicating pipe, and a check-valve connected to the stem and controlling communication between the supply-passage and the casing, said valves being located in relation to effect the opening of one coincidently with the closure of the other in either direction of movement ot the stem, substantially as set forth.

In a fluid-pressure signaling mechanism, the combination of a chamber or casing, a fluid-pressure-supply passage leading thereinto, a movable abutment tted to Work in the casing, a discharge-passage leading from the casing to a signal-indicating-device pipe, a stem actuated by the movable abutment, a discharge-valve connected to said stem and controlling the discharge-passage, an escapepassage leading from the discharge-passage to the air, and a regulating-valve controlling said escape-passage, substantially as set forth.

4. In a {luid-press ure signaling mechanism, the combination ot a chamber or casing, a movable abutment dividing said casing into two compartments, a fluid-pressure-supply passage leading into one of said compartments, a pipe leading from the other compartment to a signal-indicating device, a tubular stem actuated by the movable abutment, a supply-valve connected to said stem and controlling communication between the compartments of the casing through a passage in the abutment,acheck-valve connected to the stem and controlling communication between In testimony whereof I have heento set my hand.

ELLSVVORTH J. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

J. SNoWDEN BELL, F. E. GAITHER. 

